Victor Lindelof Sweden

Internationals: When are our players on duty?

Thursday 11 November 2021 14:25

An abundance of Manchester United players could feature in November's senior international fixtures and for some, it's crunch time as they look to put crucial points on the qualifying board for next year's World Cup in Qatar.

With matches taking place across Africa, Europe and South America in the next two weeks, here's a full look at when our players could feature in the final international break of 2021...

BRAZIL 

Fred will travel to South America to join up with the Brazil squad for two World Cup qualifying matches over the coming weeks. Although the teams in the continent have only played just over half of their group matches, the next two fixtures will no doubt be important in helping to shape the final outcome. 

Tite’s side currently top the South American pool and are unbeaten in their first 11 games. They will face Colombia on home soil next, in the early hours of Friday (12 November) morning, before making the trip to second-place Argentina, looking to build on their lead in the group during a rematch of the summer’s Copa America final, at 23:30 GMT on the following Tuesday.

Shaw forced off in Manchester derby

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Luke will be monitored by the club's medical staff after being hurt in an aerial collision against City.

ENGLAND 

Marcus Rashford will remain with United during the break, meaning there are two Reds remaining in Gareth Southgate's squad. Harry Maguire has returned to the group, having missed the previous gathering through injury. Luke Shaw retains his place from October’s list, although it is unknown whether the full-back will be available to represent his nation having been forced off in our defeat to City on Saturday with a head injury. 

If Shaw is fit enough to return to action, he will join Maguire as England look to secure qualification to next year’s tournament in Qatar. Four points from matches against Albania at Wembley (12 November) and at San Marino (15 November) will do the trick for Europe’s Group I leaders.

FRANCE 

Paul Pogba has withdrawn from the France squad for their World Cup qualifying fixtures against Kazakhstan and Finland, after suffering a thigh injury in training on Monday. Les Bleus were already without the services of United’s Raphael Varane, who was recently ruled out for several weeks with a hamstring issue. 

IVORY COAST 

Having made his second and third United appearances of the season in our last two outings, Eric Bailly will now switch his focus to representing his country over the coming weeks. The defender is in the Ivory Coast squad looking to secure progression to the next stage of qualifying in Africa by cementing top spot in Group D over their final two second-round matches. The Elephants will take on Mozambique next Saturday (19:00 GMT), before playing second-place Cameroon three days later in a game which could decide the winner of the group, with just one point currently separating the two sides. 

Despite returning to training and getting some minutes under his belt for the Under-23s recently, including scoring a brace in the Academy side’s 3-2 win over Leeds at the weekend, Amad has not been called up as he continues to work his way back up to full fitness.

Watch Amad's late winner Video

Watch Amad's late winner

See Amad's superb solo strike against Leeds for the Under-23s...

NORTHERN IRELAND 

Currently impressing on loan with Doncaster Rovers, young Reds midfielder Ethan Galbraith has been rewarded with a place in Northern Ireland’s senior squad for this month’s matches. The 20-year-old received praise from Rovers manager Richie Wellens recently, as well as netting his first professional goal, and will now look to add to his two caps for his nation. 

The Green and White Army cannot mathematically qualify for the World Cup at this stage but will be looking to finish their campaign on a high in matches at home to Lithuania (Friday 12 November) and European champions Italy (Monday 15 November). 

PORTUGAL 

Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo have been called up to Fernando Santos’ squad for two crucial World Cup qualifiers this month. Our trio will be hoping to help the Selecao regain top spot in Group A and qualify for next winter’s tournament with a pair of positive results over the coming weeks. 

Portugal currently trail Serbia by one point in the group going into the final two matches and face the team they currently chase at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon on the last matchday on Sunday 14 November (19:45 GMT). Prior to that, Dalot, Fernandes and Ronaldo could represent their nation closer to Manchester, as they take on the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Thursday, also kicking off at 19:45 GMT. 

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 10th international hat-trick when Portugal beat Luxembourg last month.
SCOTLAND 

Scott McTominay will miss his country's first game in this international break, away to Moldova on Friday evening, due to illness. However, the United midfielder - who netted his first goal for the Tartan Army last month, against Israel - could rejoin the squad in time for Monday night's meeting with group winners Denmark at Hampden Park. The Scots can secure a play-off spot by winning either of those two fixtures.

SPAIN 

United goalkeeper David De Gea is part of Luis Enrique’s 25-man squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Greece (11 November) and Sweden (14 November). The Spaniards currently trail the Swedes at the top of Group B by just two points meaning the 19:45 GMT kick-off at the Estadio de La Cartuja could be a winner-takes-all when it comes to topping the group and qualifying for the World Cup.

SWEDEN 

Also hoping to be on the right side of that match will be Sweden captain Victor Lindelof. Our no.2 could lead his nation to securing top spot in the group with a win against Georgia on Thursday (17:00 GMT) if Spain fail to win, but victories for both mean Janne Andersson’s side will need to avoid defeat in Spain three days later to book an automatic ticket to Qatar.

WALES

Last but not least, young midfielder Dylan Levitt, currently spending the season on loan with Scottish side Dundee United, was included in the Wales squad for their qualifiers this month but has since withdrawn due to injury. Robert Page's side will face Belarus and Belgium in their final two qualifying matches over the coming days, with a finish in Group E's top-two still possible for the third-placed Dragons.

FIXTURE LIST

THURSDAY 11 NOVEMBER

Georgia v Sweden (17:00 GMT)
Republic of Ireland v Portugal (19:45 GMT)
Greece v Spain (19:45 GMT)

FRIDAY 12 NOVEMBER

Brazil v Colombia (00:30 GMT)
Moldova v Scotland (17:00 GMT) - McTominay absent
England v Albania (19:45 GMT)
Northern Ireland v Lithuania (19:45 GMT)

SATURDAY 13 NOVEMBER

Ivory Coast v Mozambique (19:00 GMT) 

SUNDAY 14 NOVEMBER

Spain v Sweden (19:45 GMT)
Portugal v Serbia (19:45 GMT)

MONDAY 15 NOVEMBER

San Marino v England (19:45 GMT)
Scotland v Denmark (19:45 GMT)
Northern Ireland v Italy (19:45 GMT)

TUESDAY 16 NOVEMBER

Cameroon v Ivory Coast (19:00 GMT) 
Argentina v Brazil (23:30 GMT)

You will be able to follow our Reds over the break via our international blog on ManUtd.com and the Official App, from Thursday.

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